We are Nebraska. Engagement — the co-creation, co-discovery and co-development of solutions — is key to the land grant mission of the University of Nebraska. Engagement brings Nebraska to the world, and the world to Nebraska through a university where students, faculty, staff and alumni are actively engaged across Nebraska and beyond. It is imperative that the university embrace a culture of engagement and partnership that generates genuine mutual benefit both in Nebraska and across the world, while creating extraordinary opportunities for students, alumni, industry, community partners, faculty, and staff to contribute to the public good.
Engagement Continuum
Engagement exists on a continuum, and we are building supports to help more of our community engagement projects to be in communities and with community members. Co-creation and shared leadership and learning are what we are striving to accomplish more often.
To:
Projects informing the community by providing balanced and objective information to assist them in understanding the problem, alternatives, and solutions.
For:
Projects involving the community throughout the process to ensure their concerns and aspirations are consistently understood.
In:
Projects partnering with community stakeholders in each aspect of the decision-making from development to solution.
With:
Project with shared leadership of community-led projects with final decision-making at the community level.
Language adapted from the IAP2 Public Participation Spectrum
Progress to Date
- Co-Creator Group worked campus-wide to submit Carnegie Engagement Designation Application
- Engagement Collaborative representing all colleges as well as other statewide units is serving as the liaison with faculty and engagement work
- AMPLIFY Engagement conferences were held to spark the work of engagement among colleges/campus programming, Nebraska Extension faculty statewide, and community stakeholders
- Engagement and Outreach Map highlights statewide engagement in teaching, research, and extension
- UNL Community Engagement Seed Funding (Internal Competitions)
Next Steps
- Professional development focusing on engagement
- Developing metrics for recognizing engagement work
- Showcase our Successes
